Where is OUR support?

[Oliver]

They are not silent. Simply you don't hear about it because the attention in the US is focused elsewhere (on NO).

When a disaster happens in your country, your media focuses on the human and economic consequences and little is heard about the help from abroad. When a disaster happens abroad and your country helps, the focus is a little different (a larger part is devoted to giving information about your country's involvment). It is completely understandable, and it is the case in every other country.

Now help HAS been offered: the EU has offerend help, and many countries have made offers independantly from the EU (Germany for drinkable water systems, the Netherlands offered to send levee experts, Sweede offered medical aid and communication systems, France offered medical aid, food and the help of boats and planes ("no surprise", you said?)), and in Asia Japan and Australia among others also offered aid.

I'm not sure this help will be accepted (our help was refused just after 9/11), but it has been offered.

 

[wanderingone]

The US shows support, monetarily and physically, for crisis around the world. Why is it that in our time of need in the aftermath of Katrina, so many of our neighbors are silent? Sri Lanka is sending experts over to help out in the Katrina aftermath, as well as other unnamed Asia Pacific nations, but where is everyone else? Maybe I'm just uninformed, but I haven't heard a peep from Britain, France (no surprise there), Germany, or anyone else for that matter (outside of the Red Cross organization). When disasters hit other countries, the US runs to the rescue immediately. When our nation cries out for help, we're answered by deafening silence while our people sit in their own waste, die, and rot in the streets. This is absolutely pathetic.

First of all at least a dozen nations have offered help. ? Do we actually NEED it? This nation has the resources needed to get these people help and we've chosen to screw it up.

We are to blame for our own lack of planning in this country... all homeland security has blathered on about since being formed is emergency planning. (duct tape and all that ya know?) FEMA was on the spot in a heart beat when we had minor flooding around my mom's home some years ago.. why are they so sluggish in New Orleans?

Why does a city that can be at the mercy of a damn not have a plan for major flood evacuation? For those blaming the victims for not leaving perhaps instead of telling people to get out when they know a lot of the population does not have the resources to temporarily relocate let's be real... some people just won't go, and some people simply don't have any resources to go... force used to move people BEFORE the flooding sure beats the chaos there now.

Every state should be making a statement regarding how many refugees they can accept, and the federal government should be moving these people out..

What good is help from another country when we don't even know what to do with the resources we have?

 

[jmikey]

We are a wealthy country. But for decades we have spent jst as much if not more money aiding other coutries than aiding ourselves. We are slipping in education, our health care system is pitiful, and we have far too many homeless. What does our government think...Who knows they are more focused on a war that's killing children and lining their pockets. You aren't the only one that's angry.

 

[diamond717]

The point is the other nations do not seem to care about us, and definitely not the same as our country cares about others. We are EXPECTED to help out in disasters around the world, and give our all. It should be a "two-way street" .... or are we actually the lesser citizens of the world? The scope of this disaster is phenomenally huge, and while there are thousands of rescues that have gone on since the devastation, there are thousands more to be done. The neighboring countries' silence in this is deafening. They have yet to even say a word of condolence!

 

[Oblivious]

We are one of the richest, biggest nations in the world, we can take care of ourselves. If we give to others and gripe when they don't give back what kind of message is that? We're we giving only to receive?

I think it's more the pricipal than the $$$.

 

[Oliver]

Diamond, let me repeat: there is no silence, except perhaps in the media, for help HAS BEEN OFFERED to the US.

They have yet to even say a word of condolence!

How do you know? YOU haven't heard it. Perhaps you should blame YOUR media if you haven't heard about it.

 

[rahma]

The point is the other nations do not seem to care about us, and definitely not the same as our country cares about others.

As previous posters have mentioned, other countries DO care and ARE sending help. Just because you're not listening does not mean they're not sending help.

 

[wanderingone]

I'm very angry right now. We are the wealthiest nation on earth and we can't even provide for our own people. NBC Today show was just airing reports on how horrible the conditions are at the New Orleans Convention Center, and how they STILL have no food or water. People are DYING. The NBC Today Show news anchor just said he saw THREE people dying JUST THIS MORNING.

What the HECK is going on? What if this were a terrorist attack? We'd be screwed! And Bush is supposed to be the protector of the people? Obviously he's proven to be the complete opposite. Worse, the official word from the White House is that we are NOT REQUESTING the aid of other countires. Canada, France, Venezuela, Russia - all have offered help. But we rejected it. Why?

Why can't we care for our OWN PEOPLE here in the RICHEST COUNTRY ON EARTH!!

Help from other nations isn't the problem right now. But like you I am furious, and frustrated, there's NOTHING I can do other than make my small donation and of course pray endlessly but I am so ANGRY that we have no plans in place for these kinds of emergencies.

At least I know here in NY "the state" is organizing information and resources for local (social service) districts that have Katrina refugees turning up for help so they aren't getting turned away for any stupid reasons.

I'm glad Bush acknowledged that the response has not been acceptable he needs to be cracking heads at Homeland Security and FEMA (which is overseen by HS)

We're running around trying to tell other nation's how to run their country and we can't even handle a disaster in ONE small area.

 

[Cerberus~]

I'm very angry right now. We are the wealthiest nation on earth and we can't even provide for our own people. NBC Today show was just airing reports on how horrible the conditions are at the New Orleans Convention Center, and how they STILL have no food or water. People are DYING. The NBC Today Show news anchor just said he saw THREE people dying JUST THIS MORNING.

What, you think ppl are only killed in the actual hurricane? Sometimes, the post disaster conditions are more deadly that the disaster.

What the HECK is going on? What if this were a terrorist attack? We'd be screwed! And Bush is supposed to be the protector of the people? Obviously he's proven to be the complete opposite. Worse, the official word from the White House is that we are NOT REQUESTING the aid of other countires. Canada, France, Venezuela, Russia - all have offered help. But we rejected it. Why?

Not requesting and rejecting are 2 very different things. I haven't heard anything of this, you have a link?

I don't know why you keep putting this on Bush. What the Louisiana government. What are they doing? What about the idiots in that city raping, looting, and killing eachother. This is how ppl in New York acted. The process might be going better if we didn't have to divert time and energy to fighting crime.

 

[heron]

Thanks Oliver and wanderingone for details. Maybe the US is just saving face by not broadcasting all the help it's getting. Our source of information is the media, not the US government. But one would think that several stations of 24/7 news might be able to squeeze in a little gratefulness to other countries. Most of their coverage now is personal stories rather than facts on emergency response.

 

[NothingButTheBlood]

I personally don't think we should take any outside help. At least not the Government. If private agencies want to take donations that's no problem.

 

[rahma]

Germany offers aid

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said he's offered aid to the U.S. to help the survivors of Hurricane Katrina, which probably killed thousands of people in four Gulf coast states.

Germany is ready to provide help including airlift capacities, vaccination, water purification, medical supplies and pumping services. The aid is available in the short term and can be brought to the U.S. on German air force and chartered planes, Schroeder said. The U.S. government has agreed to receive the help in principle, he said.

At least 20 countries have offered international aid

The State Department said offers so far had come from Belgium, Canada, Russia, Japan, France, Germany, Britain, China, Australia, Jamaica, Honduras, Greece, Venezuela, the Organization of American States, NATO, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Greece, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Mexico, South Korea, Israel and the United Arab Emirates.

Assistance ranged from medical teams, boats, aircraft, tents, blankets, generators and cash donations.

Australia offers aid

The Australian Government today has announced a donation of $10 million to assist the victims of Hurricane Katrina in the United States. The funds will go to the American Red Cross which is at the forefront of assisting those displaced and left homeless by the tragedy.

The Netherlands offers aid

The Netherlands has offered the US authorities the services of a dike inspection team to help combat the flooding in New Orleans.

The team is ready to leave for America if it is required, the Dutch Ministry of Transport and Waterways said on Thursday.

It goes on and on and on

 

[heron]

For instance, yesterday I watched them spend about twenty seconds preparing to tell us how we could help, then the phone numbers and web sites flashed on the screen for five seconds--not long enough to get out a pen. Why did we need to watch the talking head when they could have had the numbers up the whole time?

 

[wanderingone]

Are any of you on your way to help?

You can't just show up, you become another body that has to be looked after by the limited law enforcement down there now.

Unless you have specific skills that organizations can use and can tell you exactly where you can go it's not reasonable to jump on a plane and head to that area.

I believe the red cross has listings of organizations that will take your information and contact you if they can use your skills.

 

[Smoke Screen]

I was channel surfing for some news footage and came across the Keith Olbermann Report. He said that France has offered to send water and water purification systems to the U.S. I also heard that Europe will be shipping oil. The oil won't get here until October, but it's better than nothing. I'm not sure if they are covering the bill, however.

It's cool to see Canada helping out.

 

[heron]

Thanks to all the countries! (We should have brought in dike experts before the hurricane hit!)

 

[Skeptical]

Are any of you on your way to help?

This question might be better directed to our current administration.

 

[PACKY]

Are any of you on your way to help?

very true...
if you have medical, LE or disiater training..they NEED YOU.

if you dont they NEED your money and Donations...

 

[Oliver]

According to the AFP (Agence France Presse), Yesterday, the amount of money gathered by the NGO reached $ 90 millions. That's about threee times what was gathered for the Tsunami a few months ago.

http://fr.news.yahoo.com/050901/290/4kbew.html

 

[wanderingone]

What, you think ppl are only killed in the actual hurricane? Sometimes, the post disaster conditions are more deadly that the disaster.



Not requesting and rejecting are 2 very different things. I haven't heard anything of this, you have a link?

I don't know why you keep putting this on Bush. What the Louisiana government. What are they doing? What about the idiots in that city raping, looting, and killing eachother. This is how ppl in New York acted. The process might be going better if we didn't have to divert time and energy to fighting crime.

Group behavior in trauma situations is rather violent. In NY nobody was stuck. Everyone was out by the end of the night. Resources weren't nearly as limited and a huge number of survivors were going HOME when they left the scene of the attack, not having to leave home and go...... to points unknown. In NY water and sewage wasn't terribly effected, and the victims in general were not as needy.

While it wasn't reported much there was some looting... but since the affected area was so small the opportunity for looting was minimal.. and NY's fire and police departments are HUGE and could surround the WTC area at nearly a moment's notice...it helped we weren't under water too. ...